Truss-pad



(No Mcdel'.)

0 s. LEONARD. TRUSS PAD.

No. 436,630. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SEVVARD LEONARD, OF GLOVER, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO YVILBUR F. TEMPLETON, OF MANCHESTER, NEXV HAMPSHIRE.

TRUSS-PAD.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,630, dated September 16, 1890. Application filed December 3, 1839. Serial No. 382,450- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SEWARD LEONARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glover, in the county of Orleans and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Truss-Pads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in truss-pads for use with surgical trusses of various kinds and for various purposes, the objectthereofbeingtoprovideasimple,cheap, novel, and serviceable pad, which may be capable of being so located upon the ruptured part as to exert an even gentle elastic pressure thereon and yet be held firmly and immovably, so that during the movements of the person it may not become displaced from its proper position, and so that no injury may ensue to the ruptured part as the results of such movements; and the invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with a flanged holder, of a soft elastic cushion so connected to said hold er that the cushion may bear upon the hernia, while the annular face of the holder has a firm bearing upon the abdomen directly around the hernia, (or against the flesh surrounding any other ruptured part, as the case may be;) and the invention further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved truss-pad. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in both figures.

In carrying my invention into practical effect I first provide a holder A, consisting of a circular plate. This is preferablycon vexly curved on the outer side thereof, while on the inner side it is ooncaved to a greater or less degree. The concaved side of the plate A is formed with an annular flange a,

projecting inwardly a slight distance over the concaved face. This annular flange a forms,

therefore, a smooth annular or ring surface adapted to be brought in contact with any desired object, and thus adapted to surround a hernia or ruptured part and bear firmly upon the parts adjoining thereto, while the hernia or ruptured portion lies in close and 5 5 easy contact with the cushion carried on. the concaved face of the holder. This holder may be of any desirable material-such as vulcanized rubber-and it may be of any proper and useful form, outline, and shape, it being only necessary that it should have an annular flange or surface, which may have a firm solid bearing upon the parts surrounding the hernia.

B denotes a soft elastic rubber cushion consisting of a small convexed circular sheet of suitable rubber or other soft, yielding, or elastic substance. This rubber is of suitable size, so that its peripheral edge may fit neatly within the concaved face of the holder A and under the annular flange a. Said rubber cushion is adapted to be sprung into place, where its own elasticity holds it and keeps it properly positioned, its convexity being presented outward, while its concave face is opposite the concaved face of the holder A. Thus it will be seen that the elastic cushion B may be pressed inward by any object acting there on from Without, and that there will be plenty of room within the concave holder to permit of such inward pressure to as great an extent as may be desired, and oven until the annular flange comes in contact with the pressing object and prevents the further inward movement of the. elastic cushion. Said elastic cushion is provided at any suitable pointas, for instance, at a point near the peripheryas shown in the drawings, with an air vent or opening b. This air vent or opening is deemed necessary, as the combination of the holder 0 A and the elastic cushion B with the air-vent 1) form in reality what may be termed an air-pu mp, the operation of which produces a suction when it is applied to a hernia, which suction helps to hold the truss in place with 5 less pressure from the belt or other device employed for keeping it in position on the person.

C denotes a screw, which enters a central opening in the holder A and is adapted to be used for the purpose of connecting the holder to a strap or other device by means of which it may be held in position.

The use and advantages of a truss-pad constructed in the manner which I have just described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description of its structural arrangement and combination of parts. It will be clearly manifest that when said pad is to be applied to a ruptured part the soft elastic cushion will be brought into contact with said ruptured part arid pressed closely against the same, while the annular flange a will be made to bear upon the contiguous surface of the abdomen or other part. This bearing of the annular flange upon the surface surrounding the hernia will serve to keep the pad fixed and immovably in place during the various movements "Of the person wearing the truss, and will prevent any displacement of the soft elastic cushion from its bearing on the hernia, which often occurs with elastic pads now in common use, and which would occur with any elastic pad not provided with this annular flange, which provides the bearing aforesaid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i v 1. In a truss-pad, the combination, with the circular holder having an annular flange, of an elastic cushion held under said flange and adapted for use so that the said cushion may bear upon the hernia while the said annular flange bears upon the surrounding parts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a truss-pad, the combination, with the holder having a convex outer face and a concave inner face and provided on the concave side with an annular inwardly-projecting flange, of the convex elastic cushion provided with an air-vent and held in place with its peripheryunder said annular flange, the convexity of said cushion projecting beyond said flange, the whole device being adapted for use, as stated, with the cushion bearing on the hernia and the annular flange having a support on the surrounding parts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I'affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SEl/VARD LEONARD.

Witnesses:

.T. P. ELLIS, O. S. PARKER. 

